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Entertaining Obituaries
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James Loveless Obituary 2023 - Pulaski Funeral Home
View James Loveless's obituary, send flowers and find service dates or sign the guestbook.
www.pulaskifuneralhome.com
Columbus Air Show
- By Thump
- Open Discussion (Work-safe)
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Columbus Air Show – June 17-18 2023
columbusairshow.com
2025 FL WR Jayvan Boggs (Florida St. Signee)
- By pnuts34
- Football Recruiting
- 74 Replies
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Class: 2025
Position: WR
School: Cocoa(FL) Cocoa
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 190lbs
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Weight: 190lbs
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2025 FL(MI) OL Kayden Strayhorn (ttun Signee)
- By pnuts34
- Football Recruiting
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Class: 2025
Position: IOL
School: Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy
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School: Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy
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Weight: 285lbs
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LGHL ‘This or That’: Which player improving would make the biggest difference for Ohio State in 2023
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‘This or That’: Which player improving would make the biggest difference for Ohio State in 2023
Chris Renne via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Ohio State returns talent, but some players will need to take a significant step forward in more prominent roles.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about taking sides in head-to-head debates. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”This or That” articles here.
Ohio State came into last season with a lot of questions at key positions, many of those questions were answered with incredible production at important positions. This season is no different with the Buckeyes having a new starting quarterback, three offensive linemen, and two safety spots on defense. Even with all these questions, the expectation is still the same at Ohio State.
Players are expected to translate their recruiting rankings to on-field production, and if a player did, there is always a thirst for more from anyone on the field. Tommy Eichenberg turned in a strong Rose Bowl performance into a dominant year at linebacker, Marvin Harrison Jr. had three touchdown catches in that same game which translated into a breakout season, and many other Ohio State players previously have followed an incredibly similar trajectory
The importance of improvement is exactly how a team goes from missing out on a national championship game by a field goal and leaving no doubt that they are the team to beat. Ohio State’s roster is once again one of the best in the country, the stars obviously need to take another step. But a national championship will be won by the guys not talked about nationally taking a step forward.
This player taking that step forward could be the difference between having the depth to win a title, or just having another season come up just short. Looking at both sides the ball, the improvement of these players is what will take this Ohio State team to that national championship level again.
Offensively the importance of players taking a step forward is significant for one reason, Ohio State will have a first-year starter at quarterback. The offensive line will also have some significant questions, so players will need to step up to bridge the gap until all parts are equal. With Brian Hartline in his first year as the offensive coordinator, these challenges will be amplified for the Buckeyes as they navigate through this season.
The big names will be expected to not only excel, but lead the way for everyone involved on this side. Those guys are Marvin Harrison Jr., Donovan Jackson, and the running back room. First-year starters cannot improve, so that leaves a list of players who need to enter the elite category. If Ohio State’s offense is going to maintain the elite level with all the question marks, these players’ improvement can make the biggest for the offense in 2023.
Emeka Egbuka was solid and reliable last season, he was often the safety valve for Stroud early in the year as a matchup nightmare out of the slot. Watching last season, he was vital in almost every way for the Buckeyes with his 74 catches, 1151 receiving yards, and 12 total touchdowns. The reason Egbuka needs to improve is because of what happened against Georgia when his running mate Marvin Harrison Jr. was knocked out of the game.
This story really starts at the beginning of the 2022 season, Ohio State had a projected three-headed monster led by Jaxon Smith-Njigba who was returning after leading the team in receptions and receiving yards. The Buckeyes star returnee ended up getting injured in the first game of the season, and never truly returned to form. This injury led to the Buckeyes needing an immediate maturation of two first-year starters at receiver.
There is no perfect world in football, but we recently saw the two most dominant offenses of all time — LSU (2019) and Alabama (2020) — use elite receiving groups to lay claim to a championship. Alabama was even able to overcome the loss of future first-round pick Jaylen Waddle due to the depth of the room.
For Ohio State’s offense to best equip itself to take on the ups and downs of a new quarterback, Egbuka taking the step into the truly elite tier of receivers can be the difference next year. That starts with consistency, and making defenses pay when they don’t give him the respect he deserves. Having two number ones is better than having one and two, that is what Egbuka can bring to the table in 2023 if he takes another step forward.
Matt Jones has a ton of experience at this point in his career and due to his seniority will be seen as an offensive leader. Jones did not rank far behind Jackson in player grading by PFF, but the general feel of the two players could not be on different ends of the spectrum. Looking at the offensive line, the only real sure thing is Donovan Jackson who could end up being a first-round pick.
Jones has an opportunity to be a lynchpin, when it comes to getting the best five linemen on the field, he definitely fits into that category. Most assumed he would play at left guard, but center is an option that so recently came to my mind as a possible place to play. For those who forgot, Jones was the 69th-ranked recruit according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings at center out of high school.
Regardless of position, last season Jones had two draft picks surrounding him at center and right tackle. Jones did his part, but a lot of Ohio State’s run game was held up by the interior offensive line as well as Jones being slow up to the second level. If Jones can make improvements in his foot speed and consistency, Ohio State can have two linemen anchoring their three new faces.
Let’s face it, Ohio State is going to run 12-personnel a lot. Since Ryan Day has taken over this has been the formation they have used the most outside of 11-personnel. This means the emergence of a second tight end to roll with Cade Stover is not only a need but a necessity. Last season, Gee Scott Jr. was often the third tight end used after Stover and Mitch Rossi.
There are expectations that Joe Royer with a full offseason training for real play time could be next up at tight end. With new tight end coach Keenan Bailey, he discussed the same prerequisites at Ohio State’s coaching clinic that Kevin Wilson did previously. The second tight end needs to be able to block. This is the challenge whoever is challenging for the role needs to overcome, and this is for good reason.
Stover struggled to block in space, and Rossi was unable to consistently block as an inline tight end. Ohio State’s offense can truly level up with an elite blocker, they have plenty of athletes at the position who can catch. This was another position that could have used that one more reliable option.
Last season began the rebuilding of Ohio State’s defensive reputation, despite how the year ended the defense improved significantly in year one under Jim Knowles. Year two should be even better for the Buckeyes with additional experience, but there is immense pressure to take the defense from good to elite.
The pressure is going to be on the J.T. Tuimoloau, Mike Hall, and the cornerbacks to really take lead the defensive success in 2023. This group is expected to take that step and reinvigorate the silver bullets. If they’re great the Buckeyes are set up for success, but they can not do it alone. Across the field, there is a long list of players who need to take steps forward that can truly make that major difference in the defense becoming truly the best.
Sawyer is playing defensive end again, that is the only place to start here. The “Jack” linebacker experiment had high expectations, but never unlocked Sawyer or took the defense to a higher level. Splitting time between the “Jack” role and defensive end led to little production. He had 24 tackles and 4.5 sacks, his sacks came against Toledo, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Maryland.
Those are great sacks to have, but only one of those sacks came in a game where Ohio State did not have it in hand. Sawyer’s return to his role as a full-time edge rusher should lead to more production in the pass-rushing categories which is needed. One way to help the secondary is more pressure, and if Sawyer can be dangerous as a rusher teams won’t be able to commit slides and running back help to one side.
Sawyer has not lived up to the billing, this year is the year he can reignite the edge rusher lineage at Ohio State. His recruiting ranking gave him Bosa expectations, those are lofty and should not be the bar he has to clear. If he can double his sacks and tackles, and have impactful moments more consistently, the Buckeyes defense can find its highest ceiling.
This might be unfair to Hancock due to his unfortunate run-in with injuries before the season even started. Coming into Fall camp expectations, the Georgia native was supposed to be the guy across Denzel Burke. The Buckeyes struggled at the position, injuries and inconsistent play plagued the secondary.
Hancock has the talent, there is no other reason the coaches talked about his talents so much leading up to the season. He needs to be on the field, for his team and himself. The Buckeyes brought in Davison Igbinosun to hedge their bets at the position, but the last two seasons have shown that more than two corners will need to step up.
If Hancock can stay on the field, and provide the physical man-coverage his recruiting profile talks about, he can solidify the secondary. Questions about the corner position will need to be answered on the field, but Hancock can be the difference in those final improvements needed in the secondary to make the defense truly elite.
Consistency is the only part of Williams’ game that is missing, in his young career at Ohio State he showed a rare size of strength, explosiveness, and ability on the defensive line. Last year he only had one sack, the year prior he had five which means there was a significant drop-off.
Williams was challenged all year about becoming more consistent in the pass rush and against the run. This offseason he has said to be getting into better shape, and he even talked about the need to be more consistent. If he can contribute in a more profound manner, Ohio State has the potential to have the most dominant defensive line in the country.
If Williams wants time in more key moments, he needs to show he can do the dirty work in less high-pressure situations. There is a reason Ty Hamilton and Mike Hall are seen as the starters. There will obviously be a rotation, but if Williams earns an increase in snaps, his ceiling might be the highest upfront. That would make for an incredibly fearsome defensive front, and that might be the difference in having a good season or contending for a national title.
If these Buckeyes become what is expected of them, Ohio State should have little worry about the rest of the holes on the roster. Egbuka stepping up further would make the first-year quarterback that much more comfortable, Matt Jones can help anchor the fresh faces on the line, and the defenders can take the defense back to that nationally dominant level.
This is not a team that can afford steps backwards with the expectations being as high as they are for the program. Even the players with a lot of production on their resumes are expected to improve year-over-year. That improvement is what makes all the players returning from last year’s team a national championship team this year. The stars obviously have expectations to add to the legacies before them, but championships are won on depth.
Ohio State has a few questions, they have a ton of returning talent, but taking that step forward is always a challenge. For this team to be national champions, that list of players can not only be difference makers, but they can be the difference in getting back to champion status. The player who makes the biggest difference, in the end, can be anyone, but it starts with the roster improving top-to-bottom.
Continue reading...
Chris Renne via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Ohio State returns talent, but some players will need to take a significant step forward in more prominent roles.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about taking sides in head-to-head debates. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”This or That” articles here.
Ohio State came into last season with a lot of questions at key positions, many of those questions were answered with incredible production at important positions. This season is no different with the Buckeyes having a new starting quarterback, three offensive linemen, and two safety spots on defense. Even with all these questions, the expectation is still the same at Ohio State.
Players are expected to translate their recruiting rankings to on-field production, and if a player did, there is always a thirst for more from anyone on the field. Tommy Eichenberg turned in a strong Rose Bowl performance into a dominant year at linebacker, Marvin Harrison Jr. had three touchdown catches in that same game which translated into a breakout season, and many other Ohio State players previously have followed an incredibly similar trajectory
The importance of improvement is exactly how a team goes from missing out on a national championship game by a field goal and leaving no doubt that they are the team to beat. Ohio State’s roster is once again one of the best in the country, the stars obviously need to take another step. But a national championship will be won by the guys not talked about nationally taking a step forward.
This player taking that step forward could be the difference between having the depth to win a title, or just having another season come up just short. Looking at both sides the ball, the improvement of these players is what will take this Ohio State team to that national championship level again.
Offense
Offensively the importance of players taking a step forward is significant for one reason, Ohio State will have a first-year starter at quarterback. The offensive line will also have some significant questions, so players will need to step up to bridge the gap until all parts are equal. With Brian Hartline in his first year as the offensive coordinator, these challenges will be amplified for the Buckeyes as they navigate through this season.
The big names will be expected to not only excel, but lead the way for everyone involved on this side. Those guys are Marvin Harrison Jr., Donovan Jackson, and the running back room. First-year starters cannot improve, so that leaves a list of players who need to enter the elite category. If Ohio State’s offense is going to maintain the elite level with all the question marks, these players’ improvement can make the biggest for the offense in 2023.
Emeka Egbuka
Emeka Egbuka was solid and reliable last season, he was often the safety valve for Stroud early in the year as a matchup nightmare out of the slot. Watching last season, he was vital in almost every way for the Buckeyes with his 74 catches, 1151 receiving yards, and 12 total touchdowns. The reason Egbuka needs to improve is because of what happened against Georgia when his running mate Marvin Harrison Jr. was knocked out of the game.
This story really starts at the beginning of the 2022 season, Ohio State had a projected three-headed monster led by Jaxon Smith-Njigba who was returning after leading the team in receptions and receiving yards. The Buckeyes star returnee ended up getting injured in the first game of the season, and never truly returned to form. This injury led to the Buckeyes needing an immediate maturation of two first-year starters at receiver.
There is no perfect world in football, but we recently saw the two most dominant offenses of all time — LSU (2019) and Alabama (2020) — use elite receiving groups to lay claim to a championship. Alabama was even able to overcome the loss of future first-round pick Jaylen Waddle due to the depth of the room.
For Ohio State’s offense to best equip itself to take on the ups and downs of a new quarterback, Egbuka taking the step into the truly elite tier of receivers can be the difference next year. That starts with consistency, and making defenses pay when they don’t give him the respect he deserves. Having two number ones is better than having one and two, that is what Egbuka can bring to the table in 2023 if he takes another step forward.
Matt Jones
Matt Jones has a ton of experience at this point in his career and due to his seniority will be seen as an offensive leader. Jones did not rank far behind Jackson in player grading by PFF, but the general feel of the two players could not be on different ends of the spectrum. Looking at the offensive line, the only real sure thing is Donovan Jackson who could end up being a first-round pick.
Jones has an opportunity to be a lynchpin, when it comes to getting the best five linemen on the field, he definitely fits into that category. Most assumed he would play at left guard, but center is an option that so recently came to my mind as a possible place to play. For those who forgot, Jones was the 69th-ranked recruit according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings at center out of high school.
Regardless of position, last season Jones had two draft picks surrounding him at center and right tackle. Jones did his part, but a lot of Ohio State’s run game was held up by the interior offensive line as well as Jones being slow up to the second level. If Jones can make improvements in his foot speed and consistency, Ohio State can have two linemen anchoring their three new faces.
A Tight End
Let’s face it, Ohio State is going to run 12-personnel a lot. Since Ryan Day has taken over this has been the formation they have used the most outside of 11-personnel. This means the emergence of a second tight end to roll with Cade Stover is not only a need but a necessity. Last season, Gee Scott Jr. was often the third tight end used after Stover and Mitch Rossi.
There are expectations that Joe Royer with a full offseason training for real play time could be next up at tight end. With new tight end coach Keenan Bailey, he discussed the same prerequisites at Ohio State’s coaching clinic that Kevin Wilson did previously. The second tight end needs to be able to block. This is the challenge whoever is challenging for the role needs to overcome, and this is for good reason.
Stover struggled to block in space, and Rossi was unable to consistently block as an inline tight end. Ohio State’s offense can truly level up with an elite blocker, they have plenty of athletes at the position who can catch. This was another position that could have used that one more reliable option.
Defense
Last season began the rebuilding of Ohio State’s defensive reputation, despite how the year ended the defense improved significantly in year one under Jim Knowles. Year two should be even better for the Buckeyes with additional experience, but there is immense pressure to take the defense from good to elite.
The pressure is going to be on the J.T. Tuimoloau, Mike Hall, and the cornerbacks to really take lead the defensive success in 2023. This group is expected to take that step and reinvigorate the silver bullets. If they’re great the Buckeyes are set up for success, but they can not do it alone. Across the field, there is a long list of players who need to take steps forward that can truly make that major difference in the defense becoming truly the best.
Jack Sawyer
Sawyer is playing defensive end again, that is the only place to start here. The “Jack” linebacker experiment had high expectations, but never unlocked Sawyer or took the defense to a higher level. Splitting time between the “Jack” role and defensive end led to little production. He had 24 tackles and 4.5 sacks, his sacks came against Toledo, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Maryland.
Those are great sacks to have, but only one of those sacks came in a game where Ohio State did not have it in hand. Sawyer’s return to his role as a full-time edge rusher should lead to more production in the pass-rushing categories which is needed. One way to help the secondary is more pressure, and if Sawyer can be dangerous as a rusher teams won’t be able to commit slides and running back help to one side.
Sawyer has not lived up to the billing, this year is the year he can reignite the edge rusher lineage at Ohio State. His recruiting ranking gave him Bosa expectations, those are lofty and should not be the bar he has to clear. If he can double his sacks and tackles, and have impactful moments more consistently, the Buckeyes defense can find its highest ceiling.
Jordan Hancock
This might be unfair to Hancock due to his unfortunate run-in with injuries before the season even started. Coming into Fall camp expectations, the Georgia native was supposed to be the guy across Denzel Burke. The Buckeyes struggled at the position, injuries and inconsistent play plagued the secondary.
Hancock has the talent, there is no other reason the coaches talked about his talents so much leading up to the season. He needs to be on the field, for his team and himself. The Buckeyes brought in Davison Igbinosun to hedge their bets at the position, but the last two seasons have shown that more than two corners will need to step up.
If Hancock can stay on the field, and provide the physical man-coverage his recruiting profile talks about, he can solidify the secondary. Questions about the corner position will need to be answered on the field, but Hancock can be the difference in those final improvements needed in the secondary to make the defense truly elite.
Tyliek Williams
Consistency is the only part of Williams’ game that is missing, in his young career at Ohio State he showed a rare size of strength, explosiveness, and ability on the defensive line. Last year he only had one sack, the year prior he had five which means there was a significant drop-off.
Williams was challenged all year about becoming more consistent in the pass rush and against the run. This offseason he has said to be getting into better shape, and he even talked about the need to be more consistent. If he can contribute in a more profound manner, Ohio State has the potential to have the most dominant defensive line in the country.
If Williams wants time in more key moments, he needs to show he can do the dirty work in less high-pressure situations. There is a reason Ty Hamilton and Mike Hall are seen as the starters. There will obviously be a rotation, but if Williams earns an increase in snaps, his ceiling might be the highest upfront. That would make for an incredibly fearsome defensive front, and that might be the difference in having a good season or contending for a national title.
If these Buckeyes become what is expected of them, Ohio State should have little worry about the rest of the holes on the roster. Egbuka stepping up further would make the first-year quarterback that much more comfortable, Matt Jones can help anchor the fresh faces on the line, and the defenders can take the defense back to that nationally dominant level.
This is not a team that can afford steps backwards with the expectations being as high as they are for the program. Even the players with a lot of production on their resumes are expected to improve year-over-year. That improvement is what makes all the players returning from last year’s team a national championship team this year. The stars obviously have expectations to add to the legacies before them, but championships are won on depth.
Ohio State has a few questions, they have a ton of returning talent, but taking that step forward is always a challenge. For this team to be national champions, that list of players can not only be difference makers, but they can be the difference in getting back to champion status. The player who makes the biggest difference, in the end, can be anyone, but it starts with the roster improving top-to-bottom.
Continue reading...
2026 FL QB Will Griffin (Florida Verbal)
- By MD Buckeye
- Football Recruiting
- 10 Replies
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Jesuit (Tampa, FL)
Ht: 6'3"
Wt: 215 lbs
Class: 2026 (High School)
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Getting rave reviews at camp today. Big kid.
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Jesuit (Tampa, FL)
Ht: 6'3"
Wt: 215 lbs
Class: 2026 (High School)
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Getting rave reviews at camp today. Big kid.
LGHL Ohio State extends multiple offers, gets set to host a top 2025 offensive lineman
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Ohio State extends multiple offers, gets set to host a top 2025 offensive lineman
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
The Buckeyes had a busy Wednesday offering three new targets in the 2025 and 2026 class.
It’s been a jam-packed two weeks in Columbus as Ohio State goes through arguably the busiest recruiting month of the year and maybe the most important one as well. Between one-day camps and official and unofficial visits, the coaching staff is putting in overtime and hoping that their efforts continue to pay off. Ohio State had another busy day yesterday and offered scholarships to multiple new names in the 2025 and 2026 classes.
Getting right to it, 2025 offensive lineman Matty Augustine made the trek to Columbus on Wednesday and didn’t leave empty-handed. A 6-foot-7, 260-pound athlete, Augustine is an unranked offensive tackle right now per his 247Sports profile, but holds offers from over 10 programs. Schools such as Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Penn State, Kentucky, and a host of others are in the mix already, but an Ohio State offer should lead to other top suitors getting more interested in the Connecticut native.
Digging into Augustine’s recruitment a little deeper, the last month has been really big for him as many of the aforementioned schools have extended their offers in that time. A continued increase in attention would lead you to believe that he’s worthy of a ratings’ boost when the time comes, but either way, the Buckeyes clearly liked what they saw enough to dish out their latest offensive line offer. Now it’s time for Justin Frye to get to work on building a relationship.
Augustine’s high school teammate at Connecticut’s Brunswick School, Ethan Long was also on hand yesterday. A 6-foot-2, 185-pound defensive back, Long impressed the Buckeye staff on Wednesday with a dominant camp performance. Locking up receivers from his safety position, Ohio State saw enough to convince them to get into the mix for Long’s services. Like Augustine, Long has seen his offer list increase over the last month and Ohio State became the latest addition.
Ethan holds offers from Michigan, Penn State, Notre Dame, Michigan State, Duke, and a few others, but again, the Buckeyes now being in the mix should lead to more of the top national contenders taking notice. Though he is also unranked at the moment via his 247Sports profile, these summer camps and visits are paying off. While the recruiting rankings do shed light on a prospect’s talent, it’s also not the end of the story. Ohio State is currently in evaluation process for many high school players in the 2025 class, so these names will be two to keep an eye on.
Right now at Ohio State, the receiver position room tends to take all of the glory — and rightfully so with how loaded with talent Brian Hartline has it — but the running back room isn’t too far off from that sort of lineup. Arguably the deepest running back room in the country, Tony Alford has a bevy of options this coming season and it’s going to be hard to give all of those guys carries when literally each one is a viable option worth using.
A major reason for all of that talent is development, but recruiting is also toward the top of the list. Alford has been able to bring in some real dudes for the Buckeyes and yesterday he was looking for more for future cycles. Alford extended his latest offer in the 2026 class, to Florida native Javian Mallory. A 5-foot-11, 200-pound athlete, Mallory isn’t your typical high school freshman as he already holds nearly 20 offers.
Schools such as Georgia, Florida State, Miami, Oregon, Penn State, and Tennessee are in the mix, with Ohio State joining that group now. There’s plenty of time for Mallory to name a leader or really start narrowing it down to his top schools, but you have to think that Ohio State’s track record at the position, and their success in Florida, means they’ll be a contender for the long haul. That’s all you can ask for right now and Alford should have no trouble with that.
With nearly 20 offers from the likes of Alabama, Georgia, Miami, Michigan, Tennessee, Texas, and a host of others, the Buckeyes have not yet offered him, but tomorrow’s visit could be the final straw before that changes.
Continue reading...
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
The Buckeyes had a busy Wednesday offering three new targets in the 2025 and 2026 class.
Ohio State extends offers to 2025 teammates
It’s been a jam-packed two weeks in Columbus as Ohio State goes through arguably the busiest recruiting month of the year and maybe the most important one as well. Between one-day camps and official and unofficial visits, the coaching staff is putting in overtime and hoping that their efforts continue to pay off. Ohio State had another busy day yesterday and offered scholarships to multiple new names in the 2025 and 2026 classes.
Getting right to it, 2025 offensive lineman Matty Augustine made the trek to Columbus on Wednesday and didn’t leave empty-handed. A 6-foot-7, 260-pound athlete, Augustine is an unranked offensive tackle right now per his 247Sports profile, but holds offers from over 10 programs. Schools such as Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Penn State, Kentucky, and a host of others are in the mix already, but an Ohio State offer should lead to other top suitors getting more interested in the Connecticut native.
Digging into Augustine’s recruitment a little deeper, the last month has been really big for him as many of the aforementioned schools have extended their offers in that time. A continued increase in attention would lead you to believe that he’s worthy of a ratings’ boost when the time comes, but either way, the Buckeyes clearly liked what they saw enough to dish out their latest offensive line offer. Now it’s time for Justin Frye to get to work on building a relationship.
Augustine’s high school teammate at Connecticut’s Brunswick School, Ethan Long was also on hand yesterday. A 6-foot-2, 185-pound defensive back, Long impressed the Buckeye staff on Wednesday with a dominant camp performance. Locking up receivers from his safety position, Ohio State saw enough to convince them to get into the mix for Long’s services. Like Augustine, Long has seen his offer list increase over the last month and Ohio State became the latest addition.
Ethan holds offers from Michigan, Penn State, Notre Dame, Michigan State, Duke, and a few others, but again, the Buckeyes now being in the mix should lead to more of the top national contenders taking notice. Though he is also unranked at the moment via his 247Sports profile, these summer camps and visits are paying off. While the recruiting rankings do shed light on a prospect’s talent, it’s also not the end of the story. Ohio State is currently in evaluation process for many high school players in the 2025 class, so these names will be two to keep an eye on.
AGTG!! Blessed to say after an amazing camp and conversation with @ryandaytime I have received an offer from The Ohio State University!@Coach_Eliano @Coach_Wayne55 @Coach_SSStan @CoachTimWalton pic.twitter.com/H2O5Im8qYk
— Ethan Long (@Ethan_Long8) June 14, 2023
Buckeyes offer 2026 Florida running back
Right now at Ohio State, the receiver position room tends to take all of the glory — and rightfully so with how loaded with talent Brian Hartline has it — but the running back room isn’t too far off from that sort of lineup. Arguably the deepest running back room in the country, Tony Alford has a bevy of options this coming season and it’s going to be hard to give all of those guys carries when literally each one is a viable option worth using.
A major reason for all of that talent is development, but recruiting is also toward the top of the list. Alford has been able to bring in some real dudes for the Buckeyes and yesterday he was looking for more for future cycles. Alford extended his latest offer in the 2026 class, to Florida native Javian Mallory. A 5-foot-11, 200-pound athlete, Mallory isn’t your typical high school freshman as he already holds nearly 20 offers.
Schools such as Georgia, Florida State, Miami, Oregon, Penn State, and Tennessee are in the mix, with Ohio State joining that group now. There’s plenty of time for Mallory to name a leader or really start narrowing it down to his top schools, but you have to think that Ohio State’s track record at the position, and their success in Florida, means they’ll be a contender for the long haul. That’s all you can ask for right now and Alford should have no trouble with that.
Blessed To Receive An Offer From The Ohio State University! @ryandaytime @CoachTonyAlford @Ryan9Mayhew @Birm @CoachRLarkin @Andrew_Ivins @adamgorney @RivalsFriedman @deucerecruiting @ChadSimmons_ @MohrRecruiting @On3Recruits @preston_deuce @JeremyO_Johnson pic.twitter.com/Co5RqJqjS1
— Javian Mallory(@mallory_javian3) June 14, 2023
Quick Hits:
- Set to be on campus today for another unofficial visit and camp date, 2025 running back Michael Taylor will make the short trek from Pickerington to the Ohio State campus. A 5-foot-11, 185-pound in-state athlete, Taylor currently holds offers from Kentucky and Eastern Michigan, but is hoping this summer camp season adds to his list.
- Another big-time visitor set to be at Ohio State for Thursday, IMG Academy product, Kaden Strayhorn will make his way to Columbus for an unofficial visit. A 6-foot-3, 285-pound interior offensive lineman, Strayhorn is currently the No. 264 player nationally and 12th best player at his position according to the 247Sports Composite Ratings in the 2025 class.
With nearly 20 offers from the likes of Alabama, Georgia, Miami, Michigan, Tennessee, Texas, and a host of others, the Buckeyes have not yet offered him, but tomorrow’s visit could be the final straw before that changes.
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LGHL Hangout in the Holy Land Podcast: What will make Ohio State a national title contender in 2023?
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Hangout in the Holy Land Podcast: What will make Ohio State a national title contender in 2023?
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images
In keeping with LGHL’s weekly theme, Josh and Chuck discuss whether This or That will have a greater impact on the Buckeyes’ gridiron success.
The latest episode of Land-Grant Holy Land’s flagship podcast is here! Join LGHL’s Josh Dooley and Chuck Holmes as they cover Ohio State football, basketball, recruiting, and much, much more! Come for the hot takes, stay for the warm ones.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
On this episode of Hangout in the Holy Land, Josh and Chuck embrace LGHL’s weekly theme of This or That. More specifically, the guys bring up different ‘This or That’ scenarios and discuss which player(s) performance, outcome, etc. will lead to greater success for Ohio State football in 2023.
With C.J. Stroud gone, is the play of Kyle McCord and/or Devin Brown essential to OSU having an elite offense? Or can multiple running backs shoulder the load?
Are turnovers caused by the defense the ultimate predictor of success and winning? Or is it a ferocious pass rush? Will we actually see The Rushmen in action?
Finally, is this the year of the tight end in Columbus? Probably not, but the hosts can dream.
Before signing off, Chuck gives out the new show email address and hits Josh with a few questions sent in by you, the listener(s).
Make sure to like, rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast! And as always, Go Bucks!
Connect with the pod
Twitter: @HolyLandPod
Connect with Josh Dooley
Twitter: @jdooleybuckeye
Connect with Chuck Holmes
Twitter: @ctholmes3
Continue reading...
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images
In keeping with LGHL’s weekly theme, Josh and Chuck discuss whether This or That will have a greater impact on the Buckeyes’ gridiron success.
The latest episode of Land-Grant Holy Land’s flagship podcast is here! Join LGHL’s Josh Dooley and Chuck Holmes as they cover Ohio State football, basketball, recruiting, and much, much more! Come for the hot takes, stay for the warm ones.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
On this episode of Hangout in the Holy Land, Josh and Chuck embrace LGHL’s weekly theme of This or That. More specifically, the guys bring up different ‘This or That’ scenarios and discuss which player(s) performance, outcome, etc. will lead to greater success for Ohio State football in 2023.
With C.J. Stroud gone, is the play of Kyle McCord and/or Devin Brown essential to OSU having an elite offense? Or can multiple running backs shoulder the load?
Are turnovers caused by the defense the ultimate predictor of success and winning? Or is it a ferocious pass rush? Will we actually see The Rushmen in action?
Finally, is this the year of the tight end in Columbus? Probably not, but the hosts can dream.
Before signing off, Chuck gives out the new show email address and hits Josh with a few questions sent in by you, the listener(s).
Make sure to like, rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast! And as always, Go Bucks!
Connect with the pod
Twitter: @HolyLandPod
Connect with Josh Dooley
Twitter: @jdooleybuckeye
Connect with Chuck Holmes
Twitter: @ctholmes3
Continue reading...
